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Alzheimer's disease

Annual campaigns encourage the elderly to get the flu jab before the winter sets in, but there’s another segment of the population that should also be vaccinated to help protect the over-65s. Children have been described as ‘super spreaders’ by NHS bosses, which could pose a risk for their grandparents.
As Christmas draws near, the NHS is recommending children take advantage of a free nasal spray...

Relatives are being warned against giving bottles of alcohol to the over-55s this Christmas, as it has been found that excessive drinking is becoming a problem in the elderly. Health campaigners are recommending gifting ‘their company’ instead.
Those aged between 55 and 64 are now drinking more than any other group in England and Scotland, according to the Calling Time report. It was put together...

Research into dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is getting a significant injection of cash after Bill Gates pledged $100 million (£75 million) of his own money to the cause. The co-founder of Microsoft will split the funding between two pathways to help find a cure for the neurological conditions.
The first $50 million will go to the Dementia Discovery Fund, which works with experts both in the...

Cases of Parkinson’s disease have more than doubled in the last 25 years and show no signs of abating. This makes it the fastest growing neurological disorder, putting it ahead of dementia and a serious concern for the elderly.
At present, there are 6.9 million people across the planet who suffer with the disease, but by 2040, the figure is expected to reach 14.2 million. This is partly down to...

The medicalisation of the elderly is at an all-time high, with half of all over-65s in the UK taking at least five drugs every day. A study carried out by Cambridge University found that the number of pensioners taking this many pills has quadrupled in two decades.
Of the nine million pensioners in the country, around 4.5 million or 49 per cent are on a minimum of five drugs a day. This is up...

When it comes to exercise, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach, especially in later life. A new study from Harvard University has found that over-70s who undertake one brisk walk a week can slash their chances of an early death by 70 per cent.
The key to the findings, however, is the higher intensity of the activity, as simply walking the dog, window shopping or doing housework...

Much is made about children being obese in modern day Britain, but the problem extends to the other end of the spectrum too. According to experts, elderly people are not getting enough exercise and a national activity service is what’s needed.
The UK Active organisation has said that professionals who interact with the over-65s could be trained to help them move more. This could include those who...

A new vaccine based on cucumbers could be the breakthrough that scientists are looking for to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists from Dundee and Oxford universities working together have found what has been described as the ‘magic bullet’ in the fight against the neurodegenerative condition.
Trials using the jab, which contains a virus that usually affects vegetables like cucumbers, have so...

Throughout October, staff and residents at care homes across the country have been celebrating 25 years of Barchester Healthcare. Having started out with a single property in the Cotswolds, it has grown into a network of more than 200 homes and seven independent hospitals.
Each of the homes is celebrating in its own way, with everything from tea dances to live music marking the occasion. South...

Odours may just be the key to tackling Alzheimer’s disease that the scientific community has been looking for. In recent months, there have been headlines about the fact that losing the sense of smell can be an early sign of the condition, but a new breakthrough suggests that sniffing could also lead to a cure.
Research into the humble roundworm has found that teaching it to sniff danger triggers...